Cross-line buckle.



Patented June 14,1910.

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ANDREW a GRAHAM 1x:w PHUTCLUTNOGRAPNERS', WASHINGTON. 11:;

HARVEY HALL, OF PAONIA, COLORADO.

CROSS-LINE BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910. Serial No. 481,879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY HALL, citizen of the United States, residing at Paonia, in the county of Delta and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cross-Line Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in buckles of that type designed particularly for use on harness in connecting the cross line to the long line, and the invention has for its object an improved device of this character which embodies to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability and strength, and which includes a peculiar arrangement of parts whereby the straps passing through the buckle serve to maintain the tongues effectually in engagement with the long line in order to connect the cross line thereto, the buckle being susceptible of being readily manipulated to adjust the cross line upon the long line as required.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my improved cross line buckle; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle detached.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

My improved device consists essentially of a buckle frame that is preferably substantially rectangular in top plan view and that comprises spaced side bars 1 connected by transverse end bars 2 and 3. In the present instance this buckle frame is formed from a single length of stout wire and the side bars 1 are correspondingly looped or coiled in proximity to the end bar 2 to constitute bearings 4, while intermediate of the bearings and the opposite end bar 3, the

side bars are formed with transversely alinmg similar open crnnps 5, which face. on

one side of the buckle frame for a purpose to be presently disclosed.

6 designates a bail which is mounted on said side of the buckle frame and which is preferably formed from a strip of heavy wire bent to form a cross bar 7 at the swinging end of the bail and transversely spaced short side bars 8. Theends of the wire are correspondingly inwardly disposed at the opposite end of the bail and substantially in the plane thereof, as indicated at 9, and are journaled in the respective bearings 4, the said ends projecting inwardly beyond the side bars 1 to form in effect a cross bar at the pivoted end of the bail and having their extremities correspondingly out-turned in angular relation to the plane of the bail to constitute strap engaging tongues 10. The tongues 10 project through the buckle frame and are arranged on the opposite side thereof from the bail and are inclined in operative position toward the end bar 2, in which position the cross bar 7 at the swinging end of the bail is seated in the orimped portions 5, as best seen in Fig. 2.

In the practical use of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention, the rear end of the cross line, A, is passed around the cross bar at the pivoted end of the bail 6 and engaged with the tongues 10, which latter project outwardly therethrough in order to engage the long line, B. The long line, B, is passed upwardly between the end bar 2 and the cross bar at the pivoted end of the bail 6 and is then passed downwardly through the bail, whereby to be looped over said cross bar and the tongues 10 carried thereby (see Fig. 2). The long line and cross line extend forwardly beneath the cross bar 7 and between the same and the adjacent end bar 3 of the buckle frame and are attached to the bits of the horses in the customary manner. The stiffness and thickness of these two straps, together with the tension exerted thereon serves to maintain the cross bar 7 seated in the orimped portions 5. This causes the tongues 10 to assume an operative position and to engage the long line, B, to connect the cross line thereto. It is to be observed that should the tension upon the long line or cross line be increased, the cross bar 7 is held in the crimps with greater force and thus the possibility of the buckle slipping upon the long line is efit'ectually precluded. Should occasion require that the buckle be shifted to a new adjusted position upon the long line, such adjustment may be conveniently effected by merely pushing the two lines rearwardly through the buckle frame, so as to provide a loop below the swinging end of the bail 6, whereupon the cross bar 7 is released and is adapted to be swung downwardly below the crimped portions 5, to assume the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus move the tongues 10 into an inoperative position to release the long line, B. The long line is then drawn through the frame longitudinally as much as is required to shift the frame to the new adjusted position thereon, the two lines being drawn forwardly to return the parts to their former positions.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided an im proved buckle which may be advantageously employed upon harness or the like, although not limited to any such use but susceptible of application generally; which is capable of ready manipulation; which embodies to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability and strength, and which consists of comparatively few parts that may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a buckle comprising a buckle frame including side and end bars, and a bail pivotally connected to the side bars in proximity to one end bar of the buckle frame and provided at its pivoted end with a buckle tongue movable with the bail and adapted to be supported in operative relation to the said end bar, the side bars being formed in proximity to the other end bar with open crimps, and the free end of the bail being designed to be seated in said crimps to maintain the buckle tongue in an operative position and being arranged, in such position, short of the last named end bar, whereby to permit a strap to be passed through the bail and between the free end thereof and the corresponding end bar to retain the bail against swinging movement.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a buckle comprising a buckle frame consisting of side and end bars, the side bars being formed in proximity to one end bar with transversely registering bearing loops, and a bail mounted on one side of the frame and journaled in the bearing loops and provided at its pivoted end with a cross bar carrying a buckle tongue projecting through the frame and movable on the opposite side thereof from the bail andadapted to be supported in operative relation to the said end bar, the side bars being formed intermediate of the loops and the other end bar with corresponding open crimps opening on the side of the frame at which the bail is mounted, the free end of the bail being designed to be seated in the crimps to maintain the buckle tongue in an operative position, and being arran ed, in such position, short of and in spaced relation to the corresponding end bar of the frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY HALL. [1 5.]

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MOORE, VILLIAM P. BAETJU. 

